Toronto Chinese Lantern Festival

The Toronto event is based on the historical Chinese Lantern Festival, held in China on the fifteenth and final day of the Lunar New Year celebration.

According to legend, a maid the Imperial Palace named Yuanxiao wanted to be home with her family for the Lunar New Year.

The emperor thus had the entire court and city put up colored lanterns and light firecrackers to mimic a great fire.

The 2007 festival in Toronto was held from July 19 to October 7, featuring 40 displays which focused on three major Chinese dynasties: the Qin, Tang, and Song.

Originally envisioned as a one-year event, the success of its first year resulted in the festival returning in the summer and fall of 2008 and 2009.